Arrest made in connection with labour exploitation offences

A man has been arrested in connection with modern slavery offences following a joint operation in Redbridge.

The Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA), supported by the Metropolitan Police, attended an address in Ilford, Redbridge in the early hours of Wednesday (10 December), where a 50-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of committing forced or compulsory labour offences under Section 1 and 2 of the Modern Slavery Act.

He has since been released pending further investigation.

The arrest comes following a report that a woman was being forced to work at a care home in Merseyside without receiving payment. She has since been safeguarded and referred to the National Referral Mechanism (NRM), the UK’s official system for identifying individuals who may be victims of modern slavery and connecting them with appropriate support services. 

Senior investigating officer at the GLAA Mike Heyes said: “We are pleased that this operation went ahead successfully and although the investigation remains ongoing, we are clear that we have a zero-tolerance approach to anyone being exploited for their labour, and we will act accordingly.

“The victim has been safeguarded and continues to be supported by specialist officers as she begins the path of rebuilding her life.

“I’d like to thank the Met officers for their support, and we will continue to work closely with our partners to share intelligence, safeguard vulnerable people and bring those who would cause them harm to justice.”

Anyone who suspects that workers are being exploited for their labour should contact the GLAA, or if you feel there is an immediate danger, contact 999.

You can contact the GLAA on 0800 432 0804. Please provide us with as much information as possible to enable us to investigate your concerns. You can also email us on contact@gla.gov.uk or use our online reporting from which is available through our website at www.gla.gov.uk.